Momentum wheel start-up method for HAUSAT-2 ultra-small satellite

This paper addresses a newly proposed start-up method of the HAUSAT-2 satellite momentum wheel. The HAUSAT-2 is a 25 kg class nanosatellite which is stabilized to an earth pointing attitude by 3-axis active control method. A momentum wheel performs two functions. It provides a pitch-axis momentum bias while measuring satellite pitch and roll attitude. Pitch control is accomplished in a conventional way by driving a momentum wheel in response to pitch attitude errors. Precession control and nutation damping are provided by operating the pitch-axis magnetic torquer. A momentum wheel is nominally spinning at a particular rate, and speed changes are made as needed. Spinning the momentum wheel redistributes the angular momentum to the spacecraft body. If the wheel is suddenly spun up to its nominal speed, the large momentum produced together with the existing momentum due to the nominal rotational motions will result in a high disturbance and unstable motion. This simulation study investigates the feasibility and performance of a proposed strategy for starting-up the wheel. A proposed strategy to start-up the wheel shows that its pitch momentum wheel can start-up successfully to its nominal speed from rest, and can be stabilized to nadir pointing within about three orbits.